Recent Conservative caucus departures have sparked intense media scrutiny, revealing what many observers are calling a clear double standard in Canadian political journalism. While two Conservative MPs leaving the party generated sensational coverage, similar incidents involving Liberal defectors received markedly different treatment.
Conservative Departures Spark Media Frenzy
The Conservative ranks diminished by two members in early November 2025, triggering what critics describe as disproportionate media attention. Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont, who had held various shadow cabinet positions since his 2019 election and served as Commons deputy speaker, crossed the floor to join the Liberals on November 4, 2025, following the budget release.
D'Entremont revealed to Postmedia that he had been in discussions with the Liberals prior to the budget. His final decision came after what he described as an angry confrontation with Conservative house leader Andrew Scheer and whip Chris Warkentin. Initial CBC reporting alleged physical contact with d'Entremont's assistant, though this claim was later retracted.
As the d'Entremont situation unfolded, Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux announced his impending departure on November 6, 2025. Jeneroux, a caucus member since 2015 with various shadow cabinet experience, maintained a low public profile while his family resided in Victoria.
Contrasting Coverage of Liberal Defections
The media response to these Conservative departures differed dramatically from coverage of similar Liberal defections. Outlets including the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and CBC portrayed the Conservative situation as dramatic internal turmoil.
The Star published a column by Althia Raj headlined "Ottawa hasn't seen this kind of soap opera drama in decades," while the Globe described Conservatives "trying to regroup after a difficult week of internal drama." CBC coverage emphasized alleged negativity within the party and from leader Pierre Poilievre, characterizing floor crossers as "potentially potent political symbols."
This coverage stands in stark contrast to how media handled Liberal MP Leona Alleslev's 2018 defection to the Conservatives. CBC News portrayed Alleslev as hypocritical, highlighting leaked emails showing she had "heaped public and private praise on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau" before secretly planning her defection.
Policy Options published an explanatory piece suggesting floor crossers tend to lose their seats, serving as a warning to others considering similar moves. Despite this prediction, Alleslev won her seat in the 2019 election before losing it in 2021.
The Pattern of Unequal Treatment
The double standard extends beyond individual defections. In 2022, when Quebec Liberal MP Joël Lightbound criticized his own government's COVID vaccine stance as divisive and stigmatizing, media response was notably measured.
The public broadcaster and Globe provided balanced analysis with comments from multiple perspectives. CBC later published content essentially telling Conservatives "this is how you criticize mandates," praising the manner of Lightbound's criticism while often condemning similar Conservative positions.
This pattern suggests that caucus unrest receives dramatically different treatment depending on which party is affected. While Conservative departures become major political stories framed as internal crises, similar Liberal situations receive more analytical, less sensational coverage.
The recent coverage raises important questions about media objectivity in Canadian political journalism and whether different standards apply to reporting on the Conservative Party versus the Liberal Party.
